New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-28
VIOLENCE IN ST. STEPHENS.
WOMEN SAY THE UsHERs STRUCK THEM.
TROUBLE OVER THE FLOWERS ON DR. MGLiNN"
CONFESSIONAL.


TROUBLE OVER THE FLOWERS ON DR. M0hiNN
CONFESSIONAL.
While the organ was playing and the choir OF
st. Stephens Church were SINGING at The close oi
lIieh Mass yesterday, and when nearly all Ihc
congregation had passed from the church into INC
street. an uproar broke out at the west side of the
Twenty -ninth-st entrance which caused a pahic
for few minutes among those who remained In
the church. A crowd Of several hundred PARISH
toner's were gathered at the entrance near whlch
under the gallery stands DR.. Mcilynn's COMES
sional Since DIR. McGlynn lift st, Stcpheh
Church the confessional has been kept decorated
with flowers and vines of smilaX. When por'
ton of the flowers began to wither fresh ones
were supplied in their face. A framed engraving
Of the former pastor occupied the centre ol uiie
confessional and this was almost hidoen "iUh
flowers At the masses on Sundays many OF the
parishioners entered or passed out by this door
way and many of them brought flowers to ada 10
the decorations. AS the present week Is HOY
Week, all the paintings in tho church are covered
UP on Saturday night. Dr. McUlynns lrehos
removed the brighter bits Of color from the con-
fesslonal and replaced them with draplnes ol
white and callas.
AS the usual throng gathered about the conleS
sional after Iii h Mass yesterday the fact that
all the white decorations placed upon II the hsht
before had been removed attracted attention
and caused indignant comment. They were sald
to have been removed by the direction OF Fathe1
Cotton. The picture of DIR. McGlynn had beel
taken away but the name of the Doctor, which
had been removed by Father Donntlly and SUD-
sequently was restored, still remained. Whne
the discussion was at its height several women
entered the church with bouquets and another
picture of the former pastor and began again 10
decorate the confessional. They were inter
rupted by several OF the ushers, who have been
attending to the church since Dr. Mdilynn went
away They ordered the women to 60 away
with the flowers. No attention was paid to them,
and then the men seized the women taking the
flowers from them and again tearing them down
from the confessional. The women resisted, and
the men pushed and dragged them toward the
doorway. One of the women, Mrs Kay, SAID that
a man struck her and injured her shoulder.
Mary Halllgan DR.. MciIynn's servant, who has
taken his part frequently in the church, was
one of the other women. and she resisted with such
success that of the men became angry, strik-
ing at her with his fist and trying TO force her
through the doorway. The gathered
around, screamed and cried Shame shame :.
and one of the parishioncrs caught hold Of the man
and threatened to knock him down if he touched
the woman again. The man said that he had been
ordered to prevent any more flowers being placed
In the confessional. 1he Indignation of the women
became so great that they now made rush at the
ushers. One OF the men was caught by his long
beard and other women pressed them from
behind until the men were forced from thr church
70 the street. Father Cotton and several of the
priests who were still remaining in the church
trcd to paclfy the crowd but the women were
now thoroughly excited and gcstcuatinc wildly
"A fine priest you are" of them
shaking her fist at Father Cotton. This is the
WAY you treat the Doctor that made you what
you are"
Their denunclations became more unpleasant,
and Father Cotton began TO see that his presence
would do no good. and he left the church, passing
through the bap.istIy and locking the door after
HIM. The flowers had been torn and trample
under foot in the struggle, but the picture was
restored and several Callas arranged around it,
Other members of the church from the street who
had heard of the difficulty returned
and the action of Father Cotton IL
having the decorations torn down
was severely denounced. rush made to the
baptistry to demand the return of DR.. McGlyuns
picture The door was pounded on, but it resisted
these efforts and a throng of the women then went
around to the front of the rectory to the priests
They rang at the bell but no one responded to the
call.
lepce had sent at to the police station. Cap
tam RYAN sent burly sergeant and four officers
who were at the station IN citizens dress. Their
ARRIVAL aueted the trouble at the church. although
il did not stop the Indignation. The seats around
tbe confessionai were filed with the friends of DR..
McGlynn. most of them women who declared that
they would maintain constant watch 10 Keep the
decorations from being molested again. They were
not again disturbed by the ushers.
"If Father Cotton had told us he wanted to re-
move the decorations" one of them said, lit would
have made no trouble; but now he has shown him.
self Just as bad as Father Donnelly. He will be Of
more good here" - ~
Another said that Father Donnelly still act
He and Monsignor Preston. 1t SAID, had q con-
ference abOut the church in the rectory on Friday,
and IL was then decided to remove the decorations
and take away DR.. McGlynn's name. Father Col
ton did not care to say anything more about the
matter Yesterday than that the decorations were
removed by his order In anticipation OF Holy
Week.
The removal on Saturday of Father Curran, who
had been sent from st. Stephens To ST. Patricks
Church in MulbeTy-st, was also commented on.
DIR. Curran is known as warm supporter OF Ut.
McGiynn. and the Archbishop is said to have been
displease by DR.. Curran's address IN JOness Wood
on St Patricks Day. Ii said yesterday that
Ir. CuTran had been removed TO a church at New
burg.
of the ST Stephens parishOners, and they VIII
hear from other priests. too. on this action"
Toward evening many OF the congregation assem-
bed around st. Stephens Church, and the discus
sion was as excited il few weeks ago,
when Father Donnelly sent to the church
DROWNED IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
San FRANCISCO, March GA peculiarly sad accident
off the Pacific Coast Railroad